Bulgaria: Stoyanov And Socialist Headed For Runoff

Sofia, 11 November 2001 (RFE/RL) -- Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov and the head of the former-communist Socialist party, Georgi Parvanov, are running neck-and-neck in the first round of presidential elections. News polls released tonight indicate that the two candidates each obtained some 35 percent of votes cast and face a second-round run-off next Sunday. Former Interior Minister Bogomil Bonev had between 18 and 20 percent of the vote.

The figures are according to a poll by two institutes -- Sova-Harris and Mediana -- made up of a representative sample of votes from polling stations.

Parvanov even had a slight lead, according to polls from the Gallup, BSCI, GISDI, and Alpha Research organizations. Official results will be published by the Electoral Commission later today.